What's Blooming

The skies outside my window are overcast and the deck of our balcony is damp from the misty light rain. Another day similar to those we enjoyed during the winters of Oregon. Yesterday, Ann and I returned to Home Depot and came home with another Martha Washington geranium and a pot of marigolds.  My Mother, Anna, and my Mother-in-Law, Ethel, always had marigolds in their gardens. The marigolds' yellow and orange blooms are a reminder of their vibrant lives.
 
Here are eight pictures of flowers that are blooming in the Prospect Gardens. The white delicate blossoms are some Sweet Woodruff that were planted several years ago. Ajuga are the  three small purple blooms. The cluster of leaves roughly in the middle of  the picture are weeds waiting to be removed.  This rainy Spring has meant plenty of weeds.

Here's the Golden Alexanders. It's their second year in the Gardens and transplanted from gardens on the near east side of Madison. 

Of course these are the lovely and delicate Columbine. This one is the progeny of seeds planted eight years ago when we began the Gardens. Others have spread throughout the Gardens. Wow, hard to believe it's been eight years.

I have no idea what species this is with its delicate light blue blooms on one stem. The plant is about a foot tall.  I do not recall planting this lovely addition to the Gardens. May it continue to thrive and spread.

These are the flowers of one of two Pagoda Dogwoods that I planted nearly five years ago. This is the first year they have blossomed. I have been waiting patiently for the arrival of these delicate blooms and now celebrate this developmental stage. They were about two feet tall when first planted and were on sale. Great investment. In the next few years, they will grow in height.

Pictured to the left is Solomon's seal.  These came from a friend's garden.  I so enjoy the delicate bell-like flowers. This plant loves the deep shade and nicely compliments hostas.

Spring would not be Spring without the Jack-in-the Pulpits. This one graces the hosta garden and is rather tall.

Prairie Smoke, an early bloomer, produces these beautiful pink star-like blooms.  This one in on the Dudgeon Monroe side of the Garden and another one resides in the Regent side of the Gardens. Last year I had about a half dozen, and two survived. Not a good survival rate, I would say.

The Gardens, like life itself, does constantly change as the seasons pass. Each plant has its life cycle. Some are with us for a long time while others just for a brief span; adding their beauty and then disappearing forever.

Busy Week, Dirt Therapy and Wet Stalwarts

We have been busy gardening for the last eight days and since I last blogged.. Besides working in the Prospect Gardens, Ann and I enjoyed shopping for and placing potted plants on our long deck that extends across the front of our apartment. A variety of annuals joined a statute of Buddha, a small water fountain, and two large pottery vases. We brought these four items with us when we moved last August into our apartment.  Ann's ability to select and match colors contributed to a very pleasing display of flowers.

On May 13, a sunny Saturday, Ann and I joined the crowd at the annual UW- Arboretum plant sale. We arrived at 9 a.m. and chatted with others as we waited about a half hour before getting into the tent. I enjoyed a cookie while patiently listening to a woman with a wonderful accent telling us about a mysterious plant in her garden. She kept showing us several pictures on her camera while expecting us to guess the plant's name.  I felt like I was caught in a version of  "Garden Jeopardy". After about ten minutes she revealed the plant's name.

We purchased five Columbines and made our way to the Gardens. The five replaced those that didn't survive the  winter.  Ann and I spent more time than I anticipated. Laura, a stalwart volunteer, joined us after walking her friendly little dog. We weeded as time swiftly flew by. We ended about one o'clock.

My niece's husband refers to gardening as "dirt therapy."  The analogy is somewhat appropriate, from the perspective of relieving stress. For me, however, the difference is that when gardening I don't do self-analysis or seek self-improvement. Gardening is more like meditation with the object of meditation being the task before me. As I garden I experience calmness, a feeling of generosity, being connected to Mother Earth, and time dissolving.

On Friday, May 19th, before the rains arrived in the late afternoon, I planted four boxes full of Sweet Woodruff. Ann S.,  a friend and leader of our Japanese Crane sessions, offered the plants. Ann S. cares for an garden area that makes up an intersection in front of her home.

Sweet Woodruff is a great ground cover that spreads quickly and took over her small garden.  Digging it out required pulling on the carpet-like root system after digging under it. The slopes that make up much of Prospect Gardens need ground cover. The quick spreading Sweet Woodruff will help prevent erosion while adding early spring green color that will last until frost. Perfect!

Here is one area on the border of the shade garden with the newly transplanted Sweet Woodruff. The stump is from a tree removed several years ago and is at the top of the slope. Over time, the area in front of the stump should be covered, and in early Spring with many delicate small white flowers also. Three other areas in the garden gladly received more Sweet Woodruff.

Today Ann and I returned to Ann S's intersection garden for more Sweet Woodruff and transplanted them into the Prospect Gardens. I already had some, planted a few years ago. We also transplanted grasses from Janice's rain garden. Janice was our neighbor when we lived on Keyes Avenue. Thanks Janice and Ann S. for the gifts.  




Saturday, May 20th, arrived with cloudy skies and rain once again in the forecast. The rain fell all Friday reminding me of the rainy Oregon days when we lived in Portland in the 1970's. We headed for the gardens just before 9 a.m and as we left the garage, sprinkles hit the windshield. We persisted. Two stalwart volunteers joined Ann and I. Here's Joyce pulling weeds. Notice her winter hat; needed because the temperature was about 45 degrees.

The rain increased, but then would stop for awhile. Here's Laura working diligently.

While working, Nick who lives next to the Gardens, leaned over the picket fence and offered future use of water from his rain barrel. This includes a hose. I gladly accepted. Thanks Nick. You may recall that  Nick and his son made the bird houses that now grace the garden.

One bird house has attracted a wren. We don't know if Mother wren will actually select the house in which to lay her eggs. Mother wrens, along with the help of their male mate, build several nests. Mother selects which one to lay her eggs and bring up her brood. I will be watching the house to see if it was selected.

When this picture was snapped the rain had already increased, as you can tell by the soaking of Joyce's jacket. Joyce's smile and laughter lessened the sting of the cold rain.

By 10:30am,  we threw in the trowels, giving in to Mother Nature. Ann distributed her delicious homemade lemon bars and we all headed home. We were pleased with what we accomplished. Thanks Laura and Joyce.

2017 Season Arrives: Weeding and the Red Bud

The 2017 gardening season at Prospect Gardens officially begun last Saturday, May 6th, on a perfect Wisconsin spring day; sunny, temps in the low sixties and a blue sky.  Incidentally, May 7th was naked gardening day. We passed on the opportunity to participate a day before this happening. Pulling stinging nettles in the buff would have been a challenge.

Weeding was the primary task. The mild winter perhaps encouraged the abundance of Creeping Charlie.  You may be surprised to learn that it was intentionally brought to North America by European settlers. Maybe our ancestors were influenced by a Greco-Roman doctor, Galen, who recommended it for inflamed eyes, or the English herbalist, John Gerard (1545-1607) who believed that Creeping Charlie reduced ringing in the ears, according to Botanical.com.

Regardless, on Saturday much of our energy focused on removing the thriving Creeping Charlie. Steve, a long term volunteer, and I spent most of the morning removing it from the strawberry patch. The winter really thinned out the patch.  Or was it the rabbits? On Monday, my wife Ann, and I refreshed the patch with donated plants from Jennifer, a Regent neighbor.  Today, I will add more plants donated by another Regent neighbor, Ann. Ann and I belong to a small group of retirees, "Going Forth." We meet once a month to talk about situations involving retirement and aging while applying lessons from Buddhism.


Here are two more volunteers, Ann N. and Laura, working in an area just west of the strawberry patch.  Creeping Charlie  also invaded the area. Ann's daughter and our daughter, Emily, were school buddies since Kindergarten.  Now adults, the two are still in contact.  Ann's daughter has twins who bring much happiness to Grandmother Ann. 

This season, Garlic Mustard, the terrorist of gardens, is hardly present throughout the Prospect Gardens.  I am wondering why that is the case. It's  a Eurasian native likely brought to North America by early European colonists as a food and medicinal plant.  In late April, neighbors working in the nearby Glenwood Children's Park held a "Weed Feed" feasting on dishes that included Garlic Mustard.The park's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Glenwood-Childrens-Park-Madison-WI-163767666993119/) also mentions Stinging Nettle soup and recommended the roots of Burdock. 
 
 Stinging Nettles were in this area being observed by Steve in this picture.  Steve has that determined look as he surveys the hillside. I managed to pull most of the plants with only a few stings on my wrists when my long sleeve shirt sleeve pulled up.  The stinging sensation continued for nearly 24 hours.










 

We once again enjoyed Ann's, my wife, special homemade treat. Here's Ann N. (the Regent volunteer), Loren, Laura, and Steve enjoying Hungarian Kalacs . Thank you all for helping out.  You deserved a break. 

We enjoyed this wonderful pastry with lots of walnuts along with a yeast dough and based on Ann's Grandmother's recipe.  I jokingly refer to Ann, as the Union Boss, since she makes sure we take breaks. I tend to forgot about time. . 

The morning disappeared so quickly. We made some progress in removing the weeds with me acknowledging many still remain.  Another session is scheduled for May 20th.  Ann and I will most likely return before then, if the spirit moves us. 





In the meantime, the blooms on the Red Bud, planted several years ago, are fading. A marker of time passing while broadcasting the beauty of this spring season.  Spring also reminds of the impermanence of life in the midst of beauty.

This picture was taken several weeks ago. I marvel at how this lovely sign of spring was once a scrawny twig.  Steve brought the twig over and confidently put the twig in the ground. I kept my skepticism about its future to myself. The wonders of nature and an example of the tenacity of this particular Red Bud.